What can be done to improve prep basketball in Arkansas?Finals schedules, blended conferences, fewer classificationsa private school championship, a shot clock in the last two minutes.Just throwing out a few of the hot topic issues for intelligent discussion.

Shot clock would improve the fan experience, no doubt, would also force coaches to coach better possession management, would give defenses a great advantage...if they rebound well. All in all, it would make the game much more exciting. Those other comments about taking advantage of current rules are moot in my opinion.

However, the original question to this thread was what could be done to improve basketball...

Have senior high coaches take a greater role in supporting and developing the elementary basketball leagues. It's amazing how many large schools have communities that have weak elementary leagues with limited facilities, coaches, and practice time. Then dedicate more time to skills such as shooting and ball handling during the spring-summer-fall.

Whose paying to set up shot clock's in each school? I don't even think I can trust some English teacher running one of these in a game. I love the idea and it should be enforced but running a shot clock is tough for people who do it in NBA games sometimes. They have replay to fix it. High school won't.

Whose paying to set up shot clock's in each school? I don't even think I can trust some English teacher running one of these in a game. I love the idea and it should be enforced but running a shot clock is tough for people who do it in NBA games sometimes. They have replay to fix it. High school won't.

Well, they've managed to overcome that problem in the 8 states that use a shot clock in high school.

So is a football team bleeding the play clock and pounding the ground game not football? Or a soccer team playing a possessive keep-away not soccer?

They have a game clock...you have the opportunity to stop them. In a way that works like a shot clock. In basketball, no matter how well you play defense, if a team passes and moves the ball well, the only way to get the ball back is to foul. You may get lucky and get a turnover or two, but teams that come down and take two minutes off the clock is cowardly to me.

As far as soccer? Have never watched a game in my life. Someone else can figure that one out

Redwolve makes incredibly valid, logical points. The biggest hurdle would be mounting the shot clock lights on the backboards and paying for it, along with the new remote controls. I also think Geno was right last year when he was quoted as saying that women's basketball should be playing on 9foot goals like womens volleyball does. However, that would require $$$ to purchase adjustable goals in every gym. Men's and women's VB nets are a foot difference in height; womens 100m hurdles are lower than the 110m mens high hurdles; women's high jump entry height is far lower than mens in track, yet, we complain about women's basketball being boring expecting them to be as athletic and big as the guys...

Redwolve makes incredibly valid, logical points. The biggest hurdle would be mounting the shot clock lights on the backboards and paying for it, along with the new remote controls. I also think Geno was right last year when he was quoted as saying that women's basketball should be playing on 9foot goals like womens volleyball does. However, that would require $$$ to purchase adjustable goals in every gym. Men's and women's VB nets are a foot difference in height; womens 100m hurdles are lower than the 110m mens high hurdles; women's high jump entry height is far lower than mens in track, yet, we complain about women's basketball being boring expecting them to be as athletic and big as the guys...

They have a game clock...you have the opportunity to stop them. In a way that works like a shot clock. In basketball, no matter how well you play defense, if a team passes and moves the ball well, the only way to get the ball back is to foul. You may get lucky and get a turnover or two, but teams that come down and take two minutes off the clock is cowardly to me.

As far as soccer? Have never watched a game in my life. Someone else can figure that one out

Shot clock is a needed and until it does basketball in Arkansas will continue to suck stalling the ball

It doesn't compare to what Skyline in Dallas Texas tried to do this year. They almost made it to the State title game playing stall ball. A team with 3 D1 recruits playing stall ball is a terrifying thing.

It doesn't compare to what Skyline in Dallas Texas tried to do this year. They almost made it to the State title game playing stall ball. A team with 3 D1 recruits playing stall ball is a terrifying thing.

In what way? If you can't beat them, they must be doing something right.

Not just finding someone to do it, but finding someone who can do it properly will be a hassle for some places as well.

Not a huge fan of having a shot clock but here is my suggestion if it ever happens.

Shot clock would have to be done correctly and with someone who is knowledgeable and it would be a costly addition when you calculate its additional cost every game. My suggestion is to do away with one of the officials and go back to two man crews and use the extra money for a shot clock official. Three man crews are a huge waste of money in my opinion. I think officials did much better with two man crews anyway. Now they spend too much time looking at each other to see who is going to make that block charge call. JMO

Not a huge fan of having a shot clock but here is my suggestion if it ever happens.

Shot clock would have to be done correctly and with someone who is knowledgeable and it would be a costly addition when you calculate its additional cost every game. My suggestion is to do away with one of the officials and go back to two man crews and use the extra money for a shot clock official. Three man crews are a huge waste of money in my opinion. I think officials did much better with two man crews anyway. Now they spend too much time looking at each other to see who is going to make that block charge call. JMO

That is an interesting take from someone who, I assume, is really an old referee.

It's a game about coaches and kids. It's not about making fans happy with an uptempo game. No matter how much you don't like a team taking the air our of the ball, that may be their best strategy for winning against a given opponent. It should be that coaches decision based on his players.

Not a huge fan of having a shot clock but here is my suggestion if it ever happens.

Shot clock would have to be done correctly and with someone who is knowledgeable and it would be a costly addition when you calculate its additional cost every game. My suggestion is to do away with one of the officials and go back to two man crews and use the extra money for a shot clock official. Three man crews are a huge waste of money in my opinion. I think officials did much better with two man crews anyway. Now they spend too much time looking at each other to see who is going to make that block charge call. JMO

From a current ref that does both 2 man and 3 man, it would be a mistake to do it this way. Shot clock=more trips up and down the court. The speed of the game is a lot faster than it was 10 years ago.

When I do 2 man crews I always feel I am out of position a lot more on fast breaks when I am going from trail to lead, than I am in a 3 man crew. The other good point of 3 man crews is that you have two sets of eyes on a fast break.

From a current ref that does both 2 man and 3 man, it would be a mistake to do it this way. Shot clock=more trips up and down the court. The speed of the game is a lot faster than it was 10 years ago.

When I do 2 man crews I always feel I am out of position a lot more on fast breaks when I am going from trail to lead, than I am in a 3 man crew. The other good point of 3 man crews is that you have two sets of eyes on a fast break.

That's why I would be against 2-man crews. Speed of the game creates too many problems on the break

That's why I would be against 2-man crews. Speed of the game creates too many problems on the break

Just so you know my position......I am not for a shot clock any way shape or form but would not doubt it will happen some day. As for my suggestion for two man crews that was simply my suggestion on how to do it and keep cost down. Now I only worked about two years with three man crews the rest of my days were two man crews. I am sure no current officials would want to go back to that because it would take 1/3 of them off the floor every night. I am just saying I don't think games have automatically been called better since we went to three man crews. I know schools pay more for three but not sure they get a better product. Watched a tournament last two years in Mountain View/ Liberty HS in Missouri that Bay girls played in and won and they used two man crews. Games went fine and were well called games. There is a crisis coming and already here in some places to come up with three good officials every place every night. Lucky to get two good ones most nights. Going back to two would help and actually weed out the weaker ones. Not sure what year everyone went to three but best I can remember is was about 1990. I still think it is not needed most places most nights. Again JMO

I get what you're saying. My only reservation with 2 man crews is that most of the refs we have in our conference are older guys. I don't think they would last in a 2 man system. Wouldn't be a problem if more young guys would get certified

Refs are less likely to get feelings hurt by each other in two man by worrying less about what's in your area vs his. Lot of small conferences were still running two man crews in early 2000s and I never noticed any consistent improvements upon the move to three man crews. The fees for officials go up every few years, thus the costs for families with multiple kids is ridiculous to pay to come watch their own child play

It's a game about coaches and kids. It's not about making fans happy with an uptempo game. No matter how much you don't like a team taking the air our of the ball, that may be their best strategy for winning against a given opponent. It should be that coaches decision based on his players.

Case in point: Booneville vs. Huntsville girls, 2007 regionals 1st round at Clinton. Booneville 10-16 going in and Huntsville as I recall 24-2. In an up and down game Booneville would have had little chance. But the Booneville coach chose to play a very patient game and rely on her defense.

I will say Huntsville played right into their hands by not taking shots on their end that with their given talent they should have made. Instead it comes down to a Booneville possession at the end of the game in which they ran off 41 of the 50 seconds left and converted to win 29-28. Their only lead of the game. Huntsville didn't score in the 4th quarter.

As to the shot clock debate itself I think it would make the game more exciting to watch, but pretty well eliminate chances for even a decent team to spring the surprise of a very good team.

Refs are less likely to get feelings hurt by each other in two man by worrying less about what's in your area vs his. Lot of small conferences were still running two man crews in early 2000s and I never noticed any consistent improvements upon the move to three man crews. The fees for officials go up every few years, thus the costs for families with multiple kids is ridiculous to pay to come watch their own child play

On a side note, you can always become a referee to help better the state, work when your child isn't playing and then you AND your significant other will get into any sporting event you want for "free." (The cost of the membership to referee.) So you would in turn: provide better officiating if you care about knowing the rules, make a few hundred extra dollars a week and still enjoy the benefit of watching your child without the burden of worrying about paying to enter the game.

Also.... You have to actually work games to hold the card. You aren't able to just sign up to referee and never work any games; the state does keep an eye on that.

I used to be anti-shot clock....but watched the hoops for Hunger invitational run the final day playing 16 minute halves aND a 35 second shot clock....and I don't think it would bother me anymore...sped up play...teams could still milk the clock...and forced teams to make plays...just my 2 cents tho

On a side note, you can always become a referee to help better the state, work when your child isn't playing and then you AND your significant other will get into any sporting event you want for "free." (The cost of the membership to referee.) So you would in turn: provide better officiating if you care about knowing the rules, make a few hundred extra dollars a week and still enjoy the benefit of watching your child without the burden of worrying about paying to enter the game.

Also.... You have to actually work games to hold the card. You aren't able to just sign up to referee and never work any games; the state does keep an eye on that.

Not really sure why my quote was in your post. Didn’t see many connections there. I was agreeing with a previous post that the change to three man crews did not improve the quality of a game’s officiating vs 2 man. My remark about fees going up and tickets to see games is legit. I know too many single moms and grandmas that are raising several kids, working two jobs to Madre’s and clothe the kids, and have a hard time coming up with $30-$90 per week to watch all their kids games.

I definitely believe we have dropped the ball on recruiting and retaining fresh fish to be refs. Too many young folks intimidated by the prospect of being yelled at by crazy parents and disgruntled coaches. Too much politics in reffing circles too

I used to be anti-shot clock....but watched the hoops for Hunger invitational run the final day playing 16 minute halves aND a 35 second shot clock....and I don't think it would bother me anymore...sped up play...teams could still milk the clock...and forced teams to make plays...just my 2 cents tho

the shot clock will do nothing but make games better. Either way you need discipline and execution on offense. HS tournaments who have it have been fun for the teams that participate, small and large.

Biggest obstacle for admin and ADs is buying the set up and getting someone to run the shot clock.I also agree with Geno that women’s basketball should have a 9’ goal since women’s volleyball doesn’t play on the same high net as men, but too many folks would think it sacrilege and ADs wouldn’t want I buy the adjustable goals